Which of the following may be used to explain a mirage?
I. Layers of air near the road surface have varying refractive indices in hot weather
II. Road surfaces sometimes becomes invisible in hot weather
III. Light from the sky can be refracted upwards after coming close to the road surface.
I and III only
II and III only
II only
I, II and III
Explanation
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On a sunny day, the air region closest to the surface of the road becomes hot because of the hotness of the road. The air
after is cooler. For this reason, the light ray coming from the sun travels from the cooler air then to the hot air. This
results in refraction due to difference in density of the different air. This can then lead to total internal reflection
if both conditions for Total internal reflection is met. The total internal reflection of this ray makes it look as if the
ray is being generated from the road surface which isn't true.
So, from this explanation;
I. layers of air near the road surface have varying refractive indices in hot weather
II. road surfaces ARE NEVER good reflectors in hot weathers
III. light from the sky can be reflected upwards after coming close to the road surface
A mirage is a naturally occurring optical phenomenon in which light rays are bent to produce a displaced image of distant objects or the sky. The explanation for a mirage is as follows:
- **I. Layers of air near the road surface have varying refractive indices in hot weather**: This is true. A mirage is caused by the refraction of light, which is affected by the varying refractive indices of different layers of air. In hot weather, the air near the road surface is hotter (and thus less dense) than the air above, causing light to refract.
- **II. Road surfaces sometimes become invisible in hot weather**: This is not true. Road surfaces do not become invisible in hot weather. What happens is that the refracted light creates an illusion of water or a mirror-like surface on the road, which can obscure the actual road surface.
- **III. Light from the sky can be refracted upwards after coming close to the road surface**: This is true. The hot air near the road surface causes the light rays from the sky to bend, or refract, upwards towards the observer's eye, creating the illusion of a reflection on the road surface.
So, the correct answer is **A. I and III only**.
Answer should be D.. Check google not sure .. But because mirage occurs in really hot places
